Death Toll Rises in Philippines Ferry Fire Incident > 월드뉴스

The bodies of passengers killed in a ferry fire off the Philippines arrived at a port near Coron, Palawan, on Saturday morning, as the country's coast guard warned the death toll of 35 would likely increase. Tents were being set up to receive 30 bodies brought from the M/V June Aster, which ran aground after a fire erupted on Wednesday evening and quickly engulfed the vessel. Coast guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab confirmed at a Saturday press conference that the remains would be handed over to police forensic investigators for proper identification before local authorities could inform family members.

Cayabyab stated that the focus was currently on retrieval efforts, with plans to investigate the incident afterward. The bodies were found in the ship's economy accommodation area. Police investigators arrived at the port shortly after the press conference. The coast guard had previously indicated that the first transfer was limited to 30 bodies due to the capacity of the patrol vessel, with additional cadavers still aboard the ferry. Five fatalities were confirmed immediately following the fire.

Survivors reported that the fire began in the cargo hold and spread rapidly throughout the ship. "Everything happened in seconds," Cayabyab said, noting that many passengers did not have time to don life jackets. Myra Cabilan had traveled to Coron searching for her brother, Rammel Gonzaga, who was on a business trip. "I have lost hope," she said tearfully. The ferry's manifest listed 134 crew and passengers, although two individuals did not board. The ferry was also carrying various goods, including an electric vehicle and motorcycles. The Philippines has a long history of maritime disasters, with many citizens relying on poorly regulated ferries for inter-island transport.